Riley Yeomans, a student, describes how his golden retriever, Yashka, has changed his life and given him the self-assurance to live independently and get over depression and anxiety. Riley Yeomans wasn’t the only one who followed him across the stage to receive his degree. Riley was accompanied by his devoted guide dog Yashka, to whom, according to Riley, he owed everything.
Riley declares, “Yashka is the reason I’ve come this far; all I’ve accomplished is because of her. She entered my life at the end of my first year of college, graduated twice with me, and is now helping me pay for my Ph.D. while I’m in school.
Riley has been listed as blind since the age of two and was born with the eye disorders rod-cone dystrophy and nystagmus.
Riley, however, received a call in May 2016 that fundamentally altered his life. After spending four years on a waiting list for a guiding dog, he was finally paired with the now seven-year-old golden retriever Yashka.
Riley and Yashka qualified after receiving extensive training from the nonprofit Guide Dogs, and their life together officially started.
Riley moved to Ipswich, Suffolk, with Yashka after finishing his master’s degree to begin studying remotely for his Ph.D. in creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Riley receives more assistance from Yashka than just helpful advice. She also provides excellent emotional support.
She is the ideal buddy a person could have.
